Intel Core 3 304 vs Intel Core i7-14700T Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data presents an unusually one-sided comparison. Across all 17 recorded head-to-head tests, the Intel Core i7-14700T records a win, leaving the Intel Core 3 304 without a single victory in any measured workload. This is not a case of one chip dominating in certain areas while ceding others; the Core i7-14700T leads in every single-threaded, multi-threaded, and specialized instruction test in the database.

The use-case split is therefore stark. The Intel Core 3 304, with its 5 cores and 5 threads, is positioned for scenarios where low power consumption and a compact platform matter more than raw throughput. Its 15 W TDP and mobile BGA 1516 socket indicate a design target of thin-and-light laptops or fanless systems. The Intel Core i7-14700T, by contrast, is a 35 W desktop part with 20 cores and 28 threads, built for sustained productivity, content creation, and heavy multitasking on an Intel Socket 1700 platform.

In single-thread performance, the gap is smaller but still consistent. The Core i7-14700T wins the PassMark single-thread test by 7.5%, a modest margin that suggests the Core 3 304 has competent per-core architecture. The larger deltas appear in multi-threaded workloads: Cinebench R23 multi-core shows the Core i7-14700T ahead by 79.7%, and PassMark integer math shows a 78.4% lead. These are the workloads where the Core i7-14700T's 28 threads versus the Core 3 304's 5 threads create an insurmountable gap.

For users running heavily threaded applications such as video encoding, 3D rendering, or scientific computing, the Core i7-14700T is the clear choice from the data. For users prioritizing battery life, low heat output, and a mobile form factor, the Core 3 304 offers a functioning but far less performant alternative. The database shows no scenario where the Core 3 304 outperforms the Core i7-14700T in any measured metric.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel design generations and manufacturing nodes. The Intel Core 3 304 uses the Wildcat Lake codename and is fabricated on a 3 nm process, while the Intel Core i7-14700T uses the Raptor Lake-R codename with a 10 nm process. This node difference explains the Core 3 304's much lower TDP of 15 W versus the Core i7-14700T's 35 W, despite the latter having four times as many cores.

Core counts diverge sharply. The Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads, meaning no hyper-threading is active on any core. The Core i7-14700T has 20 cores and 28 threads, indicating a hybrid arrangement with performance and efficiency cores, where some cores contribute two threads each. This hybrid design is typical of Intel's 14th generation desktop lineup.

Cache hierarchies differ in structure and size. The Core 3 304 has a 192 KB L1 cache, a 2.5 MB L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core i7-14700T reports 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 33 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core i7-14700T's total L2 cache, when multiplied across its cores, is substantially larger, and its L3 cache is 5.5 times the size of the Core 3 304's.

Memory support also differs. The Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel memory bus and a recorded bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. The Core i7-14700T supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel memory bus; no bandwidth figure is recorded in the database. The Core i7-14700T also supports ECC memory, which the Core 3 304 does not.

PCIe connectivity is another differentiator. The Core 3 304 provides Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only), while the Core i7-14700T provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics differ as well: the Core 3 304 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core, while the Core i7-14700T uses UHD Graphics 770.

The Core i7-14700T has a larger die size of 257 mm², while the Core 3 304's die size is not recorded. The Core i7-14700T was released in January 2024, while the Core 3 304's release date is listed as April 2026. The Core 3 304 belongs to the Core 3 generation (Wildcat Lake), and the Core i7-14700T belongs to the Core 14th Gen (Raptor Lake Refresh).

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single margin in the head-to-head data is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Core i7-14700T scores 25980 against the Core 3 304's 5263, a delta of 79.7%. This is the clearest demonstration of the thread count advantage. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the Core i7-14700T scores 10911 versus 4160, a 61.9% lead. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows 2618 versus 849, a 67.6% lead.

Single-core deltas are smaller but still favor the Core i7-14700T in every test. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 3667 versus 1765, a 51.9% lead. Cinebench R20 single-core shows 1540 versus 587, also a 61.9% lead. Cinebench R15 single-core shows 369 versus 264, a 28.5% lead. PassMark single-thread shows 3905 versus 3614, a 7.5% lead. The single-thread gap narrows as the workload becomes more representative of everyday tasks, but the Core i7-14700T still wins.

In PassMark integer math, the Core i7-14700T scores 113854 against 24640, a 78.4% lead. Floating point math shows 79042 versus 29722, a 62.4% lead. Data compression shows 354216 versus 114775, a 67.6% lead. Data encryption shows 21277 versus 8501, a 60% lead. Extended instructions show 20052 versus 9686, a 51.7% lead. Find prime numbers shows 145 versus 68, a 53.1% lead. Random string sorting shows 38546 versus 13659, a 64.6% lead. Multithread shows 30571 versus 11625, a 62% lead. Physics shows 1946 versus 868, a 55.4% lead.

The Core i7-14700T's percentile ranking of 88 versus the Core 3 304's 68 confirms the overall positioning. Average benchmark scores are 41914 for the Core i7-14700T and 13745 for the Core 3 304. The nearest rival to the Core 3 304 is the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX at 13786, a 0.3% difference, indicating the Core 3 304 sits in a performance tier alongside much older high-end desktop parts. The nearest rival to the Core i7-14700T is the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS at 41963, a 0.1% difference, placing it in modern high-performance territory.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 3 304 | Intel Core i7-14700T |

| --- | --- | --- |

| Cores | 5 | 20 |

| Threads | 5 | 28 |

| Base Clock | 1.50 GHz | 1.30 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.30 GHz | 5.20 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 35 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1516 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Codename | Wildcat Lake | Raptor Lake-R |

| Process Node | 3 nm | 10 nm |

| L1 Cache | 192 KB | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 2.5 MB | 2 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 33 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5, LPDDR5X | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bus | Single-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 59.7 GB/s | Not recorded |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 6 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel Xe3 Graphics (1 Xe) | UHD Graphics 770 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2026-04-15 | 2024-01-07 |

| Launch MSRP | $309 | $384 |

| Die Size | Not recorded | 257 mm² |

The base clock is higher on the Core 3 304 at 1.50 GHz versus 1.30 GHz, but the boost clock is much higher on the Core i7-14700T at 5.20 GHz versus 4.30 GHz. The Core i7-14700T also has a larger L3 cache, more PCIe lanes, ECC support, and a dual-channel memory bus. The Core 3 304 has a smaller process node, lower TDP, and supports LPDDR5X memory.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700T has a boost clock of 5.20 GHz, while the Intel Core 3 304 boosts to 4.30 GHz.

Q: How many threads does each processor support?

A: The Intel Core 3 304 has 5 threads, and the Intel Core i7-14700T has 28 threads.

Q: What is the largest performance difference in the head-to-head tests?

A: The largest delta is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Intel Core i7-14700T leads by 79.7%.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700T supports ECC memory; the Intel Core 3 304 does not.

Q: What memory types does the Intel Core 3 304 support?

A: The Intel Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel memory bus.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700T has an average benchmark score of 41914, compared to 13745 for the Intel Core 3 304.

The Verdict

The benchmark data clearly favors the Intel Core i7-14700T in every recorded test. With 20 cores, 28 threads, a 5.20 GHz boost clock, and 33 MB of L3 cache, it delivers multi-threaded performance that the Core 3 304 cannot approach. The smallest margin is in PassMark single-thread, where the Core i7-14700T leads by 7.5%, and the largest is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it leads by 79.7%.

The Intel Core 3 304's advantages are not in performance but in power efficiency and platform size. Its 15 W TDP, 3 nm process, and mobile BGA 1516 socket make it suitable for laptops where battery life and thermal limits are primary constraints. Its single-channel memory bus and 6 Lanes of PCIe Gen 4 further indicate a low-power mobile design.

The Core i7-14700T's 35 W TDP, desktop socket, dual-channel memory, and 16 lanes of PCIe Gen 5 position it for desktop systems where performance is the priority. Its 88th percentile ranking versus the Core 3 304's 68th percentile confirms the overall hierarchy.

For users selecting between these two parts, the data dictates the choice based on form factor. A mobile system requiring minimal power draw points to the Core 3 304. A desktop system where multi-threaded throughput is the goal points to the Core i7-14700T, which wins all 17 head-to-head benchmarks by significant margins. The Core 3 304 offers no performance advantage in any measured workload, so the only justifiable reason to select it is the low-power mobile platform requirement.